ANNEX 4

Environmental, Gender and Social Standards (EGSS) Checklist

General information:
Project title:
Project number:
Applicant/Contact person(s):
Location (Global/regional/country):

Guidance:
This EGSS Checklist must be thoroughly considered during programme/project planning and design in
order to ensure compliance with the Environmental, Gender and Social Impact Management (EGSIM)
Manual. Please read the EGSIM Manual carefully as it provides further information concerning the
respective processes per size, modality and type; and kindly note the cross-references in this checklist to
the EGSIM Manual.1

Please note that all relevant information on potential environmental, gender and social risks and adverse
impacts, as well as on risk mitigation and management must be integrated into the programme/project
document and taken into due account when developing the logframe, monitoring plan and budget. It must
be ensured that ample institutional capacities and financial resources for mitigation measures, monitoring
and related management actions are considered.

Although the EGSS Checklist primarily serves as a guidance tool during the planning and design of the
programme/project, the ADA still requires it to be filled in. The EGSS Checklist must be submitted
together with the grant application form (short version) or programme/project concept note for
information; or with the full proposal for funding modalities that do not foresee the submission of concept
notes or short versions ahead of the full proposal (i.e. CSO co-financing, business partnerships).

Important Considerations:
It is not necessary to fill in the EGSS Checklist if an environmental, gender and social impact assessment
has already been carried out for the intervention or for specific components thereof (e.g. by a co-
financing partner). The documents related to the environmental, gender and social impact assessment
(i.e. ToRs, studies and reports, risk management and sustainability plan, etc.) should be made available
to the ADA, however. A summary of the results of the(se) assessment(s) should be included in the
programme/project document.

Overarching Policies and Principles2

Environmental sustainability Answer Comments (optional)4
Yes/No/NA3
E.1. Is the programme/project in line with obligations and
commitments made under Multilateral Environmental
Agreements (MEAs)?5
E.2. Does the programme/project take into account
1
https://www.entwicklung.at/fileadmin/user_upload/Dokumente/Publikationen/Handbuecher/
Environmental_and_Social_Impact_Management/EGSIM_Manual_Juni2018.pdf
2
Please refer to the EGSIM Manual (pages 4 – 7) for more in-depth explanations.
3
NA – not applicable
4
This section could be used for providing further information, if necessary, e.g. for argumentation why specific aspects
are not taken into account.
5
Please refer to the EGSIM Manual page 6 for a listing of the MEAs.
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 environmentally relevant national laws and regulations
and is it in line with, national and local environmental
goals, programmes and priorities? (Inclusive of ensuring
any necessary environmental permits for the intervention
are planned / obtained)
E.3. Is there a likelihood that the programme/project has
adverse environmental impacts? (Please also take the
cumulative environmental impacts into consideration)6
E.4. Are the potentially positive contributions and
benefits of the programme/project to environmentally
sustainable development fully considered and actions in
support of such contributions foreseen?
E.5.1. Does the programme/project partner/local
partner(s) dispose over adequate capacities on
environmental protection and climate action?
E.5.2. Are accompanying measures foreseen in order to
promote environmental awareness and knowledge and
to enable the local partners/parties to impart knowledge
that they have acquired?
E.6. Are the costs for measures related to environmental
integration, including those for awareness raising and
training, as well as for monitoring and evaluation,
adequately provided for in the budget plan?
E.7. Are the necessary indicators for monitoring
positive/negative environmental effects clearly defined?
Gender equality and empowerment of women and Answer Comments (optional)
girls Yes/No/NA
G.1. Is the programme/project in line with the main
gender equality and women’s rights treaties,
conventions, action plans and recommendations?
G.2.1. Has a gender analysis (GA) been carried out
assessing in relation to the issue(s) addressed by the
programme/project:
- the current state of the situation of women/girls
and men/boys incl. sex disaggregated data;
- the different needs and priorities of women/girls
and men/boys;
- gender disparities and inequalities; its causes,
effects and impact?
G.2.2. Have the results of the GA been integrated in all
programme/project documents, in particular are gender
disparities/inequalities part of the problem analysis?
G.2.3. Is sex disaggregated data (men/women) included
in the programme/project document, in particular in the
background information, problem analysis and
baselines?
G.2.4. Have the results of the GA been integrated into
the logframe through making the indicators on impact,
outcome and output level gender-sensitive? Are the
indicators requiring sex-disaggregated data?
G.2.5. Have the results of the GA been used to design
6
Cumulative environmental impacts can be defined as effects on the environment which are caused by the combined
results of past, current and future activities, whether by individual or collective actions.
2
concrete measures aiming at reducing gender disparities
and inequalities?
G.2.6. Are the costs for these measures as well as for
monitoring adequately considered within the
programme/project budget?
G.2.7. Have, as applicable, National Gender
Mechanisms (e.g. women’s ministries, national women’s
council), women’s civil society organisations, or
women/girls in the target region of the
programme/project been involved in the design of the
programme/project?
G.3.1. Is there a risk that men/boys and women/girls can
NOT equally
- participate in implementing the
programme/project?
- access and benefit from the opportunities of the
programme/project?
G.3.2. Is there a risk that the programme/project would
have adverse and discriminatory impacts on gender
equality and/or the empowerment of women and girls?
G.3.3. Is there a risk that the programme/project
potentially limits women’s ability to access, use, develop
and protect (natural) resources, land and services taking
into account different roles and positions of women and
men in accessing land, (environmental) goods and
services?
G.3.4. Is there a risk that the programme/project
increases the occurrence for gender based violence incl.
sexual harassment?
G.3.5. Is there a risk that respective accountability
measures are not accessible?
G.4.1. Does the programme/project partner/local
partner(s) dispose over adequate capacities on gender,
promotion of gender equality, women’s and girls’ rights
and women’s empowerment?
G.4.2. Are accompanying measures foreseen in order to
strengthen gender capacities and to enable the local
partners/parties to impart knowledge that they have
acquired?
Human rights and social standards Answers Comments (optional)
Yes/No/NA
S.1. Is the programme/project in line with the main
human rights treaties and relevant social policies at the
respective country, at regional (organisation) or at
international level?
S.2. Could the programme/project result in adverse
impacts or further marginalization and vulnerability of all
people affected by the programme/project (direct and
indirectly)?
S.3. Could the programme/project potentially restrict
availability, accessibility, affordability and quality of
programme-/project relevant resources or basic services,
particularly for marginalized and vulnerable people?7
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 S.4.1. Is there a likelihood that programme/project
stakeholders, particularly marginalized and vulnerable
people, have limited access to programme-/project
relevant information?
S.4.2. Is there a risk that programme/project
stakeholders, particularly marginalized and vulnerable
people, are excluded from programme-/project relevant
accountability mechanism and procedures?
S.5. Is there a likelihood that any potentially affected
stakeholders, particularly marginalized and vulnerable
people, are excluded from participation in decisions that
may affect them?
S.6. Is there a risk that the programme/project
exacerbates conflicts among and/or the risk of violence
to individuals and communities?
S.7. Is there a risk that rights-holders, particularly
marginalized and vulnerable people, do not have the
capacity to claim their rights?
S.8.1. Does the programme/project partner/local
partner(s) dispose over adequate capacities on human
rights and social standards/inclusion?
S.8.2. Are accompanying measures foreseen in order to
promote knowledge on human rights and the human
right-based approach as well as on social policies and
social inclusion and to enable the local partners/parties
to impart knowledge that they have acquired?
S.9. Does the programme/project engage security
personnel that may pose a potential risk to human
rights?
S.10. Are social disaggregated data (i.e. in terms of age,
ethnicity, disability status etc.) available?
If not, is the collection of social disaggregated data
foreseen?
S.11. Are the costs for social inclusion/equality measures
as well as for capacity development and monitoring
adequately considered within the programme/project
budget?

7
In general, different social groups – e.g. poor households, indigenous people, ethnic or religious minorities, children,
youth, persons with disabilities, elderly, displaced persons etc. – might be characterised as vulnerable, if being at higher
risk of being subject to discriminatory practices, violence, natural or environmental disaster, or economic hardship than
other groups within the state or at higher risk in periods of conflict and crisis. Vulnerable people might also be
marginalized in a given country, but not necessarily.
As there are different definitions of vulnerable people depending on the respective country, the respective country
characterization of vulnerable people applies.
4
 Standards8
Biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural Answer Comments (optional)
resource management Yes/No/NA
B&NRM.1. Would the programme/project potentially
cause adverse impacts to habitats and/or ecosystems
and ecosystem services?
B&NRM.2. Was the local environmental situation
critically examined and were potential negative
environmental effects of the programme/project
regarding the quality and availability of, or access to
natural resources (such as water, soil, forest, flora,
fauna, etc.) well considered?
B&NRM.3. Is the programme/project located within or
nearby to critical habitats and/or environmental sensitive
areas, including protected areas or areas proposed for
protection?9
B&NRM.4. Does the project pose a risk to the degrading
of soils? (physical, biological and chemical factors due to
desertification, deforestation, land degradation, erosion,
improper land use from improper agricultural and pasture
uses, soil fertility and nutrient loss, etc.)
B&NRM.5. Would programme/project activities pose
risks to endangered species?
B&NRM.6. Would the programme/project pose a risk of
introducing invasive alien species?
B&NRM.7. Does the programme/project involve changes
to the use of lands and natural resources, including
significant extraction, diversion or containment of surface
or ground water, that may have adverse impacts on
habitats, ecosystems, and/or livelihoods?
B&NRM.8. Does the programme/project involve
agricultural or livestock production or harvesting of
natural forests, plantation development, or reforestation?
B&NRM.9.1. Does the programme/project involve the
utilization of genetic resources (e.g. collection and/or
harvesting, commercial development of natural
resources)?10
B&NRM.9.2 Is the collection of natural resources
conducted in a sustainable manner and are the benefits
deriving from their utilization shared in a fair and
equitable manner?

8
Please refer to the EGSIM Manual (pages 8-18) for more in-depth explanations.
9
For example, areas of extreme water deficiency, areas prone to bush or forest fires, high erosion risks, wetlands or
flood plains, important water catchment or recharge areas, areas of high biodiversity, areas where natural resources are
a particular source of conflict, etc.
10
Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (https://www.cbd.int/abs/doc/protocol/nagoya-protocol-en.pdf) and
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (http://www.fao.org/3/a-i0510e.pdf)
5
Climate Action Answer Comments (optional)
Yes/No/NA
CA.1.1. Will the programme/project activities cause
significant (above average) additional Greenhouse Gas
(GHG) emissions?
CA.1.2. Are measures foreseen to reduce either existing
or potential GHG emissions?
CA.2.1. Does the programme/project take into account
projected environmental and socioeconomic impacts
caused or aggravated by the effects of climate change?
CA.2.2. Does the programme/project reduce the
vulnerability of targeted populations and promote
adaptation (capacities) and where applicable resilience
to the impacts of climate change?
CA.3. Is the information on the identified adaptation
needs based on a climate vulnerability assessment?
Pollution prevention and resource efficiency Answer Comments (optional)
Yes/No/NA
P&R.1.1. Does the programme/project include activities
that require an above average consumption of raw
materials, energy, and/or water?
P&R.1.2. Are resource efficiency (RE) and/or pollution
prevention measures foreseen? (This includes RE
measures in project offices)
P&R.2. Would the programme/project potentially result in
the release of pollutants to the environment due to
routine or non-routine circumstances with the potential
for adverse local, regional, and/or transboundary
impacts?
P&R.3.1. Will the programme/project potentially involve
the production, transportation, handling, storage, use of
and/or disposal of hazardous chemicals and/or
materials?
P&R.3.2. If yes, has the use of less hazardous
substitutes been taken into account?
P&R.4.1. Would the programme/project potentially result
in the generation of significant amounts of waste (both
hazardous and non-hazardous)?
P&R.4.2. If so, has a waste management strategy or a
waste management plan been prepared?
P&R.5. Will the programme/project involve the
application of pesticides that may have a negative effect
on the environment, natural resources or human health?
Community health, safety and working conditions Answer Comments (optional)
Yes/No/NA
HS&W.1. Are there any risks and adverse impacts to
community health, safety and security which may arise
from programme/project related activities (such as
constructions, use of equipment and technology,
transport, storage, and use and/or disposal of hazardous

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 or dangerous materials)?
HS&W.2. Could the programme/project result in
increased health risks for programme/project
stakeholders and beneficiaries (e.g. from exposure to
water-borne or water-related diseases and
communicable infections, pollution, etc.)?
HS&W.3. Does the programme/project involve support
for employment or income-generation activities that may
fail to comply with national and international labour
standards (i.e. principles and standards of ILO’s
fundamental conventions)?11
HS&W.4. Could the programme/project be prone or lead
to increased vulnerability to earthquakes, collapsing,
landslides, erosion, flooding or extreme climatic/weather
conditions?
Cultural heritage Answer Comments (optional)
Yes/No/NA
CH.1. Is there a risk that the programme/project has
adverse impacts on sites, structures, or objects with
historical, cultural, artistic, traditional or religious values
or intangible forms of culture (e.g. knowledge,
innovations, practices)?
CH.2. Is there a risk that programme’s/project’s
stakeholders, particularly marginalized and vulnerable
people, have limited access to cultural heritage?
CH.3. Is there a risk that programme’s/project’s
stakeholders, particularly marginalized and vulnerable
people, are excluded from benefit-sharing from the use
of tangible and/or intangible forms of cultural heritage?
Displacement and Resettlement Answer Comments (optional)
Yes/No/NA
D&R.1. Would the programme/project potentially involve
temporary or permanent and full or partial physical
displacement?
D&R.2. Is there a risk that the programme/project
possibly result in economic displacement, e.g. loss of
assets or access to resources due to land acquisition of
restriction in access) – even in the absence of physical
relocation?12
D&R.3. Is there a likelihood that the programme/project
possibly affects land tenure arrangements and/or
community based property rights/customary rights to
land, territories and/or resources?
D&R.4. Is there a risk that affected stakeholders,
particularly marginalized and vulnerable individuals or
groups, are not involved in consultation and decision-
making processes related to land?

11
It must be noted that at first national standards apply. If there are huge differences to international standards, it is
necessary to address relevant improvements of the national standards, where feasible.
12
Interventions that may result in physical or economic displacement will be classified as high risks and will be subject to
an Environmental, Gender and Social Impact Assessment (EGSIA).
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 Indigenous people13 Answer Comments (optional)
Yes/No/NA
IP.1. Is there a risk that the programme/project affects
the human rights, lands, natural resources, territories,
and traditional livelihoods of indigenous peoples?14
IP.2. Is there a likelihood that the principle of free, prior
and informed consent on matters affecting indigenous
people will not be applied?
IP.3. Is there a likelihood that the programme/project
would exclude any indigenous people, particularly
indigenous women and other marginalized groups, from
fully participating in decisions that may affect them?
IP.4. Will the proposed programme/project involve the
utilization and/or commercial development of natural
resources on lands and territories claimed by indigenous
peoples?

13
As outlined in the EGSIM Manual the terms indigenous people is used in a generic sense to refer exclusively to a
distinct social and cultural group, due to self-identification as a member, or collective attachment to a geographically
distinct habitat, or distinct cultural, economic, social or political institutions, or distinct language or dialect. ADA
recognizes that indigenous people may be named differently in different countries, such as indigenous ethnic minorities,
aboriginals, hill tribes, tribal groups, pastoralists etc. (for further reference see EGSIM, page 17f).
14
If the answer to this screening question is “yes”, the potential risk impacts are considered potentially severe and/or
critical and the programme/project would be categorized as either moderate or high risk.
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